Sibley tent

The Sibley tent was a tent invented by Henry Hopkins Sibley and patented in 1856 (U.S. Patent 14,740). Of conical design, it stands about twelve feet high and eighteen feet in diameter. [Sibley, "Conical Tent"] It can house comfortably about a dozen men. [Marcy, "The Prairie Traveler", p. 143: "The tent used in the army will shelter comfortably twelve men."]

The Sibley design differed from other conical tents, or "bell tents" (see photograph below), of the times in a number of ways. Sibley's design was supported by a central pole which would telescope down into the supporting tripod so that it took less space to pack and store. The tripod could be erected over a firepit for cooking and heat. The Sibley design also requred no guy ropes, being held down by twenty four pegs around the base. [Sibley, "Conical Tent"] [Marcy, "The Prairie Traveler", p. 142-143: "A tent has been invented by Major H.H. Sibley, of the army, which is known as the "Sibley tent." It is somewhat similar to the Comanche lodge, but in place of the conical frame-work of poles it has but one upright standard, resting upon an iron tripod in the centre, The tripod can be used to suspend cooking utensils over the fire, and, when folded up, admits the wooden standard between the legs, thereby reducing the length on half, and making it more convenient for packing and traveling."] Additionally, unlike earlier designs, the use of a cowl over the central pole allowed for ventilation and for the escape of smoke, regardless of wind direction. [Harrington, "A Manual of Practical Hygiene", p. 601: "The English army uses the circular, or bell, tent. ... Formerly, the ventilation was practically "nil", but now it has been somewhat improved."]

History

The US Patent office granted Sibley his patent April 22, 1856 (no. 14,740). The American army used his design exclusively during the Utah Expedition during the winter of 1857-58, proving the design. Several of the Plains Indian Wars veterans noted the tent's similarity to Indian lodges—the smoke hole, the tent pegs around the outer edge, the fire pit, etc. [Marcy, "The Prairie Traveler", Chapter V,] [Billings, "Hardtack and Coffee", pp. 47-48: "The Sibley tent was invented by Henry Sibley, in 1857. He was a graduate of the United States military academy at West Point, and accompanied Capt. john C. Freemont on one of his exploring expeditions. He evidently got his idea from the "Tepee" or "Tepar",—the Indian wigwam, of poles covered with skins, and having a fire in the centre,—which he saw on the plains."]

In accordance in the 1858 agreement with the Department of War 1858, Sibley would have received five dollars for every tent they made. However, Sibley joined the Confederate States Army after the outbreak of the American Civil War and did not receive the royalty. The Federal Army had used almost 44,000 Sibley tents during the war. After Sibley's death, his relatives attempted unsuccessfully to collect the royalties.

ee also

* Lavvu
* Tipi

References

Bibliography

*Billings, John D. "Hardtack and Coffee: Or, The Unwritten Story of Army Life". Boston: George M. Smith & Co. (1887).
*Harrington, Charles, M.D. "A Manual of Practical Hygiene, for Students, Physicians, and Medical Officers". Philadelphia: Lea Brothers & Co. (1902).
*Marcy, Randolph B., Capt. "The Prairie Traveler: A Hand-Book for Overland Expeditions". New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers (1859).
*Sibley, H.H. "Conical Tent", U.S. Patent No. 14,740: United States Patent Office (April 22, 1856).

External links

* [http://www.floridareenactorsonline.com/tents.htm Tents by Robert Niepert]
* [http://supreme.justia.com/us/79/246/case.html Supreme Court Case]